Die mechanism and extrusion method of forming metal articles



Aug. 6, 1929. F. w. BURGER ET- AL DI E MECHANISM AND EXTRUSION METHOD OFFORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed March 10, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 1929-F. w. BURGER ET AL 1,722,995

DIE MECHANISM AND EXTRUSION METHOD OF FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed March10, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g- 1929- F. w. BURGER ET AL 1,722,995

DIE MECHANISM AND EXTRUSION METHOD OF FORMING METAL ARTICLES Filed March10, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 zg W 27% Patented Aug. 6, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK W. BURGER AND BERGER STOCKFLETH, OF NILES, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORSTO EYDRAULIC PRESSED BEARING COMPANY, OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

DIE MECHANISM AND EXTRUSION METHOD OF FORMING METAL ARTICLES.

Application filed March 10, 1924.

-Our invention relates to improvements in methods and means forproducing metal articles by means of pressure. The object of ourinvention is to provide improved means and methods for producing metalarticles by means of pressure and out of malleable metal, the specificobject of our invention being the production of bearings from such metalas babbitt or other metals having similar characteristics. By similarcharacteristics we mean metal which have a softer base containing harderwearing particles distributed through the base. Such metals are typifiedby Babbitt metal which consists of a lead or zinc base with tinantimonoid crystals or hard particles of other materials, such as copperparticles; the latter are knownto the trade as lead copper metals.

A particular object of our, invention is to provide a practical meansand method of carrying into practice our invention of a novel bearing asdisclosed in our copending application S. N. 539,550, filed February27th, 1922, since matured into Patent No. 1,492,119, issued April 29,1924, wherein the method of producing bearings or bearing liliings bypressure is disclosed, such method including the idea of preserving thevirgin or original structure of the metal, or, in

other words, the original size and distribution of the harder or wearingparticles in the softer or base metal.

This present application is in the nature of a continuation in part ofour said original application. One important feature of our presentapplication relates to the method of control by which we are enabled toobtain pressure enough within the die mechanism to form the nietalarticlesiand to preserve the die mechanism against destruction from toogreat a pressure.

Our original invention includes the idea of heatingthe metal only tothat tempera- 'ture at which the soft base is sufliciently malleable topermit the mass of metal to be pressed into the shape desired withoutproducing fissures or cracks therein, or if such are producedsufliciently malleable to cause the elimination of such faultsby thefinal pressure to which the article is subjected.

A further result which it is our object to obtain is that of compactingor compressing Serial No. 698,123.

may escape from the die cavity. By controlling the shape and area ofsuch outlets we are enabled in any given instance to'produce just thequality of bearing desired and prevent undue strains being developed inthe mechanism used for producing the formmg pressure.

Another feature of our invention relates to the j oining of themalleable'metal to a harder metal back, such as a brass back or shellfor a babbitt lined bearing. It has long been common practice to tin theinner surface of a bearing shell and then cast a Babbitt metal lining,the heat of the molten babbitt causing it to be firmly soldered to theshell through the medium of the tin which was first applied to theshell. In the present method we particularly wish to preserve theorigimil'structure of the bearingmetal and consequently we only applysufficient heat to make the soft metal base malleable but not sufiicientto melt it. We have found that by direct pressure alone it is somewhatdifiicult to cause the bearing metal to adhere to the tinned surface ofthe shell. However, when we cause the bearing metal, in the formingprocess, to How over the tinned surface under the heavy pressure whichwe employ, we cause a perfect metallic joining of the bearing metal tothe backing. and motion heat is generated at the contact ing surfacessufiicient, possibly, to melt the tin solder with which the shell iscoated, or possibly the molecules of the two metals are brought intosuch intimate relations that they become as one piece. But regardless ofthe true theory of the action we are enabled to cause the lining toadhere to the shell and produce lined bearings of high quality w thoutchanging or disturbing the original structure of the metal.

A further feature of our invention relates to the die mechanism which wehave devised with which to practice our metal article By such pressureforming inventions, and has special referthe outlets to .providerestricted outlets through which the surplus metal can exude, and bymeans of which theforming and compacting pressure is limitedasatisfactory and safe point. G

Our invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in whichwe have illustrated a die mechanism which we have found best adapted tothe practice of our invention.

In said drawings Figure 1, is a top plan View of our novel diemechanism;

Figure 2, is a vertical sectional view of the press 011 the line 22 ofFigure 1 and showing a front view of the die and punch mechanism;

I, Figure 3, is a fragmentary Vertical sectiona-l view on the line 3..3of Figure 1; Figure 4, is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 ofFigure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are vertical sectional Views on thelines 55 and 6-6,respectively, of Figure 2;

Figure 7, is a fragmentary plan section on the line 7-7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8, is an enlarged vertical cross section of the die and punchsimilar to that shown in Figure 2;

Figure 9, is a similar view showing the means employed to change theforming pressure; 7

Figure 10, is a bottom plan view of the punch;

F igure 11,'isa top plan view of a line half-bearing-such as would beproduced in accordance with our improvement; and

Figure 12, is a similar View of a halfbearing formed wholly ofthe.bearing metal.

The device which we have found best suited for practicing our inventioncom- 7 prises an ordinary punch or pressurepress provided with specialbearing forming die parts. In the drawings, we have only illustrated thespecial parts whichwe have to add .to an ordinary .press to practice ourinvention. The really essential parts comprise a die member 1 having adie space 2 formed therein of the shape and conformity of the outersurface of thebearing to be produced and a cooperating punch member- 3having an operating punch member or forming block 4 adaptedto cooperatewith 'the die space 2 when brought to'closed position, as illustrated inFigures 3 and 4:, to

cause a fragment or block of the Babbitt metal 5, see Figure 2, toassume-the shape desired. This desired shape is best shown in Figures 11and 12. In Figure 11, we have illustrated a half-bearing 6 composed ofan outer semi-cylindrical backing 7 and an inner Babbitt metal lining 8.Preferably the backing has narrow outwardly ex tending circumferentialflanges 9 at its ends The die member 1 is mounted upon a suitable bedplate member 12 and is adapted to be moved from front to back-of thepress to position the die 2 below the plunger 3 at the inner limit ofits movement and at the otherto be withdrawn from the punch toward thefront of the machine so that the fiormed bearing. can be removed fromthe (1e. 1'

As'best shown in Figure 4, the die cavity 2 is mainly formed in theupper surface of a central member 13, being a part of the die member 1and at each side, that is at the forward and rear sides of this centralmember 13 are cross-bars 14, being part ofthe die member 1. Each ofthese cross-bars has'a flange 15, the upper edge 16 of which forms thatportion of the die in which the flanges 10 of the bearings are formed.These cross-bars 14 .are clamped or bound together by plates 17 andbolts 18, which plates extend across the upper surface of the ends ofthe projection 13, as best shown in Figure 1.

For the purpose of partially closing the die at the upper edges of thebearing we provide laterally 'movingplunger members 19, the inner ends20 of which are adapted to be projected toward each other, thatis towardthe center of the diea s'uflicient distance to cause them to close overthe outer part of the top of the mold space. These plungers are guidedontop of the top surface of the part 13 of the die and beneath the tieplates '17 and are adapted to be moved out and in, that is transverselyof the die mechanism as the die is moved back and forth on the baseplate. 12. As best shown in Figure 2, the base 12 has side members 21which rise at either side of the die mechanism and guide the member 1 inits back and forth movement. These side members carry under guides 22which project 1 I minate at 26, Figure 1,; so that when the diemechanism is drawn forward they can be llfted up to forcibly lift thebearing which has just been formed, engaging the bearing by the flangesand forcing it upwardly free of the die space 2. For effecting themovement of the die member back and forth on the base plate 12 weprovide a yoke member 27 having side arms 28 connected by a cross-bar29. The rear ends of the side arms are mounted upon horizontal shafts 30extending outwardly from the outer ends of the plungers 19. These shafts30 extend beyond the side arms 28 and carry cam spools 31 on their outerends, these spools being held against removal from the shafts bysuitable nuts 32.

Upon the top surface of the side parts 21 of the base plate 1, weprovide cam bars 33 and 34 adapted to enter between flanges 35 on thecam spools 30 and as the die member is moved outwardly to cause theplungers 19 to be withdrawn from their inner operating positions and asthe die mechanism is moved inwardly to position the die in workingrelation to the punch, these cam bars serve to cause the plungers 19 tobe forced inwardly to operating position. The inner ends 36 of the sidebars 28 of the yoke 27 are formed into lifting projections extendingrearwardly from the shafts 30-and when the die mechanism has been fullywithdrawn the lifting of the handle end 29 of the yoke serves to liftthe cross bars 14 through the medium of the plungers 19 and the tieplates 18, and whereby the bearing which has ust been cast can beliftedout of the die, the plungers 19 at this time having been withdrawn fromtheir positions Where the inner ends extend over the edges of thebearing.

The plunger 3 comprises a main member or casting 37 adapted to beremovably secured to the vertically movable head 38 of the press uponwhich the die mechanism is used.

This head 38 is adapted to be reciprocated up and down and force theplunger down into the die member 2 with force sufiicient to form themass of metal 5 into the space provided between the operating punchmember 4 and the die to produce the bearing. The block 4 is adapted tobe secured to the member 3 by a horizontal pin 39 which extends throughdepending portions 40 between which the block 4 is received, the pin 39preferably being arranged in axial alignment with the center line of thebearing sleeve to be produced. The forming blozk 4 is provided withdepending end portions 41 which are spread apart the length of thebearing to be produced and when closed upon the die, these dependingportions 41 descend and engage the outer faces of the upwardly extendingflanges 15 on the members 14, thus tightly closing the ends of the spacein whichthe bearing'is formed. As best shown in Figure 3, the lowerlongitudt nal sides of the. part 3 of the plunger are cut away, as shownat 42, to provide spaces 43 adjacent the inner ends 20 of the transverseplungers 19 into which'any surplus metal can be forced. As the plunger 3descends and forms the metal into the die space the pressure will berelieved and the destruction of the mechanism prevented by allowing theexcess metal to exude into the spaces 43.

In the formation of the bearing, the surplus metal, shown at 44, adheresto the bearing and is severed from the bearing in a following operationwhich it is not deemed necessary to describe herein.

Preferably the plunger member is provided. with a center button orprojection 45 on its under side adapted to produce an oil hole oropening 46 in the bearing and the plunger is preferably provided withdiagonally arranged rounded ridges 47 for producing diagonal oil grooves48 in the bearing. Furthermore, we preferably provide strips or bars 49in the plunger member at the upper side edges of the bearing adapted toproduce longitudinal cut away portions or oil grooves '50 at the upperlongitudinal edges .of the bearings produced.

in fact the bearing when it leaves the press is ready for use withoutfurther operations except merely the removal of the surplus or excessmetal 44 which can be accomplished by means of suitable simple cuttingdevices.

In our method of producing bearings, if the bearing is to have a hardmetal backing we first form the hard meta-l backing 7 preferably out ofsheet metal by means of suitable forming dies and then we coat the innercylindrical surface of the backing and the outer end surfaces of theflanges 9 with some softer adhering metal, such as a suitable solder.Then when the die member is withdrawn from beneath the plunger, as hasbeen described, the backing is laid in the die member in the properposition, the end flanges 9 engaging the outer sides of the centerprojection 13. Then a piece 5 of the Babbitt metal, previously heated,as has been described, to make it malleable, is placed in the die uponthe backing already in position. Then the die mechanism is pushed inunder the plunger and is adapted to be set in central position by meansof a rear stop 51 secured to the base plate 12. During the forcinginwardly of thedic mechanism the transverse plungers 19 are forcedtoward each other and engage over the upper edges of the backing therebyholding it accurately in central and true position. Then the plunger isforced downwardly into the die and the mass of bearing metal 5 is forcedby means. of the heavy pressure into the space between the plunger andthe die, that is between the plunger and the backing when the backing isused and in this operation under the tremendous pressure required theplained, and in such flowing over the pose the operation issubstantially the same the extrusion of metal from the die mechanism inthe bearing forming operation.

3. In a die mechanism of the kind described for forming a bearing liningin a harder metal half cylindrical shell, means metal is compacted andcaused to adhere to the inner prepared surface of the backing so thatwhen the bearing is removed, the backingand the bearing metal liningconstitutes a unitary member, the bearing metal being molecularl joinedto the backing through the medium of the solder coating on the backing.The heavypressure causes the excess metal to flow out of the die, or inother words, be extruded,.as has been exdrical shell comprising plungersmovable in and out and adapted to be moved inwardly to overlap the upperedges of the shell, as and for the purpose specified. I

4. In a die mechanism of the kind described, a suitable die forreceiving a half cylindrical bearing shell, plungers movable inwardly toengage the edges of the shell to retain it in place and preventitsextrusion under the heavy pressure used, the inner ends of the plunger-sending substantially soldered inner surface of .the lining sufiicientheat is developed to cause the bearing metalto be molecularly joined tothe solder. We-have found that it is best to allow the excess metal toflow freely over the edgeof the lining andconsequently we do not permitthe inner ends 20 of the plungers' 19 to project inwardly beyond theinner edge of the lining. When it is desired, in order to increase theforming pressure for any reason, we do this by providing outwardlyprojecting shoulders 52, Figure 9, on the sides of the plunger member 3which partially close the outlets of the die and make extrusion morediflicult. By this means we are enabledto control the forming pressureto produce the best results in relation to the particular metal beingused.

Insome instances it is desired to make bearing linings of Babbitt metalonly with out the hard metal backing and for this purfor the purposespecified.

'5. A die mechanism for forming relatively soft metal to desired shapesby'pressure, the mechanism including a die and a cooperating plunger,the die having. an open side through-which the plunger enters, anopenbeing formed .can be extruded and means for changing ,the area ofsaid opening to change the forming pressure.

6. A die mechanism for forming relatively soft metal to desired shapesby pressure, the mechanismincluding a die and a cooperating plunger, thedie having an .open side through which the plunger enters, openingsbeing provided at the sides of the plunger through which the metalbeingformed can be extruded, and means for changing the areas of saidopenings for changing the maximum forming pressure.

7. A die and coo erating plunger mechanism for forming earing metal intohearing shells of desired dimensions and density, the die having an openside through which the plunger enters, extrusion openings being providedthrough which excess bearing metal may escape and means for changing.except that the harder metal backing is omitted and a larger mass ofthe Babbitt metal is used, being sufficient to form the complete bearingof Babbitt metal.

As many modifications of our invention will readily suggest themselvesto one skilled in the art, we do not limit or confine our inventionto'the specific steps of. procedure or to the specific details ofconstruction herein shown and described.

We claim: I

1. In a die mechanism for the purpose described, means forming an outletthrou h which excess metal can be forced out of t e die space upon theclosing of the die, and means for partially closing said outlet to makethe extrusion of the excess metal moredifiicult.

2. The improvements herein described, comprising a bearing forming diemecha-' nism, including a half cylindrical die and a cooperatingplunger, side members movable in to project over the side parts of thedie for holding a bearing linin in the die, the plunger bemgprovided witside shoulders of greater or less dimensions adapted to 'project towardthe side members for controlling ing the forming pressure.

sired density, and including a die and a cooperating plunger, extrusionopenings being provided through which excess bearing metal may escapeand means for changing said openings for inversely changing the formingpressure.

ruary, 1924.

FREDERICK. w; BURGER. BERGER STOQKFLETH.

for preventing the extrusion of the cylin-' ing being provided throughwhich the metal the extrusion openings for inversely changflush with theinner edges of the shell, as and 8. In a die mechanism for formingbearing metal into desired shapes and with de- Signed at Buchanan, this24 day of Feb

